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Iwake to warmth.

And not the feverish, you-might-actually-spontaneously-combust kind of warmth I’ve been drowning in for days now. No, this is… steady. Solid. Safe.

A slow, heavy heartbeat under my ear. Strong arms curled around me like a promise. The scent of cedar and spice and alpha male sweat in a way that really shouldn’t be hot, but is.

Ash.

I asked him to stay, and, against all odds, the human brick wall saidyes.

He didn’t touch me. Not like that. He just… held me. Let me curl into him and soak his shirt and sob into his neck without judgment or complaint or any of the other things I was bracing for.

He even told me I’d made a strong nest, which was both wildly validating and maybe the nicest thing anyone’s said to me since the heat started.

Lexi would murder me if she saw me like this. Or worse, she’d sayI told you so, which ismuchmore painful.

But seriously: why the hell did I think I had to handle it alone?

Because I’m used to doing things alone.

Because asking for help still feels like a weakness.

Because I didn’t think I’d want them - these alphas with too much power and not enough chill.

But I do. I want them so badly it makes my skin too tight.

I shift slightly, and Ash’s arms tighten instinctively. Protective. Possessive.

I go still.

Something presses against my lower back. Something hard. And warm. And…oh.

Well,hello.

He’s asleep, but apparently notthatasleep.

I bite my lip.

Okay, Rhea - you’ve made it this far. You’ve survived a heat haze, a hostage-style getaway, and a government manhunt. You can handlethis.

Even if there is alotof... well,this.

I rock back, just a little. Just enough to confirm what I already know.

Yep. That isdefinitelyhis cock.

It twitches in response,heavy and hot andachingagainst the curve of my ass.

“Oh no,” I whisper, entirely not sorry.

Ash grumbles low in his throat, eyes fluttering open.

I rock back into him again.

“Rhea,” he murmurs, voice gravel and restraint as he quickly wakes. “You don’t -”

“I want to,” I whisper. “Please. I need more.”

His breath stutters.

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